Java Snippet #12
This challenge covers the review of a snippet of code written in Java
In this challenge, we analyze a Java code snippet that attempts to fetch a URL if it matches a specific pattern, secure.pentesterlab.com. The script uses regex to check if the URL contains the specified pattern and proceeds to open an HTTPS connection if a match is found. However, the key flaw is that the regex pattern is applied to the entire URL string rather than just the hostname, making it possible to bypass the filter by including the pattern anywhere in the URL.
The video transcript further explains the code line-by-line, detailing the import of libraries, creation of classes, and the method logic. It also highlights the critical vulnerability on line 13, where the pattern is improperly matched. Consequently, an attacker could exploit this by crafting URLs with the pattern embedded in query strings, thus bypassing the intended security measure.